Imperial Silk Delivery Competition (3)
Footsteps echoed from the darkness, accompanied by a faint light.
"Wh-who's there?"
"I-I'll go report inside first!"
One of the frozen escorts from Dae Woong Escort Agency dashed indoors in Man-dong's place.
Soon, the deputy leader of Jin Ga Merchant Group emerged, along with the head escort from Dae Woong and the others.
"Is it a person? Or a ghost?"
"We don't know yet. Everyone, stay alert."
The lantern drew steadily closer until they could make out the face clearly.
The man illuminated by the light was a beauty striking enough to make them pause mid-breath.
And so, despite their terror from the ghost's torment, they stared at him in a daze.
"Is everyone alright?"
His gentle voice jolted them into flustered responses.
"Gasp! Wh-what brings you here?"
"Ar-are you human?"
"I am. We were camping over there when I heard screams, so I came to check... Glad to see it's nothing serious."
He glanced leisurely around before speaking again.
"Ah, you're from Jin Ga Merchant Group and Dae Woong Escort Agency. I'm Eun Seo-ho, deputy leader of Eunhae Merchant Group."
"Ah..."
Jin Woo-jin, deputy leader of Jin Ga Merchant Group, stepped forward with a hasty bow.
"I'm Jin Woo-jin, deputy leader of Jin Ga Merchant Group. If you're from over there...?"
"Just ahead."
The spot Eun Seo-ho pointed to was the path they had to pass tomorrow.
In other words, Eunhae was ahead of them.
Which meant the obstacles they'd set on the road to hinder Chang-in Escort Agency and Eunhae Merchant Group had been rendered useless.
Jin Woo-jin forced a calm expression.
"You're ahead of us, then. Sorry for disturbing your rest."
"No harm done. We're fine, but... you all look rather pale."
"Well..."
"Did you see a ghost?"
"...!"
They froze at his words. The head escort from Dae Woong cleared his throat awkwardly.
"G-ghosts? Ahem."
"Truth be told, we're camping over there instead of here because this is a haunted spot."
"..."
"I once tried camping here while passing through."
A bear-like manservant at his side nodded in agreement.
"A local old man warned me: 'You didn't set any obstacles in the road, did you?'"
"..."
They all flinched.
But the handsome man continued innocently, oblivious.
"I asked why, and he said if you block the road or fail to clear it properly, you'll encounter a ghost tapping your shoulder while camping here."
"Eek!"
"Hiiik!"
"They say this place has a heartbreaking, tragic tale."
"A-a tale?"
Eun Seo-ho answered Jin Woo-jin's terrified question.
"A woman heard her husband, away in a distant land, was ill. She set out with medicine to save him. But someone had blocked the road, delaying her. She arrived just too late—by a mere one or two hours—and he had passed."
"..."
"Devastated, she sickened and died. Now, as a resentful ghost, she haunts this spot, dragging off those who delayed her with obstacles."
"..."
"She taps shoulders to mark her victims."
His calm tone sent chills down their spines.
"H-how do we stop the ghost from appearing?"
The frightened accountant asked.
"It's simpler than you think."
"...?"
"There's a small rock over there—said to enshrine her. Apologize for your sins before it and somersault forward ten times."
"Pardon?"
"Ah, somersaults, yes."
"Yes. It erases her mark, so she can't find you."
Eun Seo-ho continued.
"One of my group had tossed a log on the road back then, counted as an obstacle. We suffered for it, but somersaulting saved him."
"That's right."
"The old man's words rang true. After that, we avoid this place."
"..."
Eun Seo-ho smiled faintly.
"Of course, if you didn't set obstacles, ignore me."
"Hahaha. R-right."
One Dae Woong escort tilted his head.
"But we've never heard that story. And we pass here often."
"We wouldn't know either if not for our mishap."
"..."
His earnest expression left no room for argument—especially since they'd seen the shoulder-tapping ghost and bore real guilt.
"Night's deep now. Glad it's nothing. You seem headed for the imperial silk delivery competition—may the best win."
I smirked inwardly as I watched them.
Did my story hit that hard?
They're frozen solid.
It's less my storytelling and more thanks to Seo-u Warrior and Jin Yu Warrior terrifying them.
Plus Gold Guard's efforts.
"We'll be off, then."
"Ah, yes..."
We returned to camp.
"But sir."
"Yeah?"
"For an improvised tale, it was scarily real."
I chuckled at Palgap's words.
"Even I think I've got a knack for storytelling."
Indeed.
The "shoulder-tapping ghost" tale was pure fabrication.
Time for the real show.
We headed to a nearby cliff overlooking below.
The spot I'd indicated was right under the cliff—perfectly visible from here.
They'd placed a small rock there, decorated convincingly.
Moments later, the group rushed over. They paired off in tens and stepped forward.
"We apologize for our sins."
Every soul from Jin Ga Merchant Group and Dae Woong Escort Agency somersaulted ten times.
That's the true point of my ghost prank.
Watching them tumble was pure satisfaction.
Who told them to mess with us?
The next day,
we set off for Beijing again.
Thanks to last night's spectacle, the accountants gazed at me with utter trust.
No wonder—they'd struggled not to burst out laughing at Jin Ga and Dae Woong folks rolling like fools.
I thought their guts would burst.
"It's a blessing the third deputy leader is one of ours."
"Truly."
Even Gold Accountant nodded agreement with Seok Deputy Chief and Yeong Accountant's words.
Our journey continued.
.
.
.
Days later, we arrived in Beijing.
We headed straight to Yeon Jun Merchant Group, where my aunt resided.
Yeon Jun had prospered enough that our stay wouldn't burden them.
"Welcome."
Having sent word ahead, my aunt and Seon-mi greeted me.
"Aunt, good to see you. Seon-mi, it's been ages."
"Yes, brother."
"Wasn't Jeong Ho coming this time?"
"Yes, but he collapsed from overwork, so I came instead."
"Oh dear... Is he alright now?"
"Yes, thankfully not too serious. But I didn't want him straining for the Beijing trip and worsening, so here I am."
"Good call. The official roads from Hubei to Beijing are smoother than most routes, but it's no light journey."
Aunt turned to the accountants behind me. I introduced them.
"These are the accountants joining me for the competition."
They knew each other, exchanging warm smiles and bows.
"Long time no see. Seok Deputy Chief, and you two as well."
"Yes, I hope you've been well."
Come to think of it, all three had served Eunhae since before Aunt married and moved to Beijing.
"Tough trip? Rest easy."
"Thank you, miss."
I headed to my quarters.
Only after washing off the dust and changing could I flop onto the bed.
"Ugh, long carriage rides are the worst."
"Still better than riding horseback, I'd say."
"True enough."
Muttering that, I pondered the imperial silk delivery competition.
I'd never entered in my past life, but I'd gathered intel just in case.
A few pitfalls to watch—I'd meant to tip off Jeong Ho, but no need now.
The situation had shifted slightly.
One deputy judge back then was Go Seong-il, one of the two corrupt officials who rose via cheating in the exams that my eldest brother foresaw.
Backed by the Murim Alliance, he'd favored Baekcheon Merchant Group lavishly.
But he was gone now, so things might differ.
No matter.
I had other intel. Failing at this wouldn't cut it for aiming at the world's top merchant group.
Imperial Palace.
In his office, the Emperor listened to the eunuch's report.
"Oh? That boy's representing Eunhae Merchant Group?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The Emperor chuckled. The eunuch ventured cautiously,
"Shall I summon him?"
"No."
The Emperor waved him off.
"Pardon? Why not?"
"Think. If I call him now, with everyone watching each other, how fair would the silk competition be?"
"My apologies. My thinking was shortsighted."
"I'm curious what mischief he'll stir this time. Haha."
His laughter cut off abruptly.
"But you know."
"Yes? What is it, Your Majesty?"
"His damn good looks are the real problem."
At last, the imperial silk delivery competition began.
We arrived at the palace as decreed, on time.
We had to gather before the palace by the initial hour of Si (9-11 AM) and notify the inner official.
Then move together to the venue.
With Aunt's cheers, we departed and soon reached the palace.
An inner official stood at the front, roster in hand.
I approached.
"Eunhae Merchant Group."
He checked and marked us.
"Departure soon—stay put."
"Yes."
About half an hour later, the bell for Si initial tolled.
"Line up. Receive your pass and wear it. Follow that inner official."
With Palgap and the guards' escort, I entered the palace.
The palace, once unremarkable, now stirred my heart.
The venue was in the outer palace.
We waited there.
"Nervous?"
Seok Deputy Chief nodded at my question.
"A bit, yes. Entering the palace in my lifetime—bragging rights for the grandkids."
"They'll be proud."
Then the inner official's voice rang out.
"Her Majesty the Empress, the consorts, and the princesses arrive."
The imperial family entered. We all prostrated and shouted,
"We pay respects to Her Majesty the Empress. Ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand upon ten thousand!"
"Rise."
A voice of refined dignity.
We stood and looked up.
The gorgeously attired Empress led consorts and princesses.
Silk being attire material, the judges were palace attire officials, maids, the top silk users—Empress and consorts—and two officials from the Emperor.
Princesses were mere observers.
The Empress commanded us fairly with her measured yet firm tone.
Gazing at her, I recalled my past life.
She'd be poisoned in ten years.
The very poison I'd learned of at Jegal Clan.
Circumstantially, the Murim Alliance's doing.
If we won here, it might hasten—frustrated by denial.
A sudden curiosity struck.
Murim and court don't trespass domains... so why poison the Empress and push a new one?